icarve

If you are regular foot you will have one heck of an uphill blind spot and need to be carful of running into anyone. If you are goofy foot the blind spot will be more downhill and you can compensate for that more easily by turning your head more. I have a friend who skis with only one eye, but doesn't snowboard because he ran over two people that he couldn't see coming from uphill of him. Your depth perception is going to be off also, although you have probably realized that already :) you will just need to be much more aware of what you don't see and learn to compensate for it.

I am headed there Sunday through thursday too, so if anyone has any recommendations for restaurants etc. that would be great. FTA2R - Have you found anything you would recommend while you are there? Looks like you should be getting some snow this weekend :)

I got out this AM during the snowstorm. The visibility was not good and the snow was OK. One of the ski racers from Brainard put it well- it's kind of grippy under the fluff. 2 people thought that I was Trent. I am sure that it was the way that I was ridding, or maybe it was the bright green pants that I had on. :) Sorry I couldn't make it out last week, work got in the way.

They are making snow like crazy. The only runs that didn't have the snow guns on were on either side of chair 1 and chair 7. Snow was great there, but almost every other run had soft (man made) snow on it that made it a little tricky to carve. I would love to try the Stubby Night, but would not be able to make it on a regular basis. Pick what ever night works best and I will try and be there at least once or twice.

If you are looking for metal like feel in a free ride board look at the carbon construction Doneks. They are damp (and very light) and can be made in wider widths than the metal boards can. I don't know if it would make any difference in a powder board, but it sure works well in the incline 160 that I have. E-mail one of the board builders and ask them if metal or the carbon construction would make any difference in a powder board.

How late is everyone going to be there? I will likely not be there until 2 or so. :(

Sold, thanks Chris.

Sale pending.

Boots in very good shape, Liners have been molded only once. Selling because I got tired of wearing boots that are too big. $115 shipped to US address, e-mail me if need to ship outside of US.

Look who is in the Afton Alps youtube videos. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qK0ZpTD62Fw&list=UUiAWZ0_grKcuJxPaVbJedfw&index=3&feature=plpp_video This was from wed morning while the snow was still good.

I was out today chasing my 4 year old on skis and the snow was really soft and not much of it. the frontside was mostly open- I never made it to the highlands- but there is snow only on the runs and it is really thin on the edges. i hope we get more snow tonight than is predicted.

I got the Union Force MC last year and like them a lot. they are very light- lightest on the market according to Union. the have a carbon high back and a carbon toe ramp. They are not super stiff even with the carbon high back, but they are comfortable and stiffer than most of the other soft bindings out there. They are not easy entry like flows etc. The straps can be run cap style or over the toes.

knobnose: My biggest concern with Alaska is the travel time. How did you get to Valdez? The website says 6 hour drive from Anchorage or fly with additional cost and possibility of delays/ cancellations due to weather. oh, BTW Little Canada is a suburb of St. Paul- 4 mi north of downtown.

Thanks everyone for the info. It is exactly what I was hoping to find out. I knew someone here would have the experience and be able to help. :) Now i just have to decide where and when.

I am looking at going heil-boarding for a week (5 or 7 days) this winter :D and don't really know anything about where or with what company to go. I likely need to stay in the continental US or Canada. I don't really have any constraints as far as what month to go. Does anyone have any experience or recomendations? Thanks